Hemingway's Girl

Robuck has drawn on historical documents to craft an impeccable

Robuck has drawn on historical documents to craft an impeccable story of Hemingway's life in the 1930s--from a photograph of the author that includes a haunting young girl dressed in fisherman's clothes, to an account he once wrote about the unnecessary deaths of dozens of veterans and civilians during the destructive Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. This attention to historical detail is what makes Hemingway's Girl succeed; there is enough truth woven into Robuck's well-imagined story to inspire readers to learn more about the time period, the place and the author himself, and enough detail about the Keys to leave readers longing for a vacation to see the islands in person. Ultimately, Hemingway's Girl proves to be a stunning portrayal of a revered and oft-studied writer and a probing novel of family ties, love, betrayal and a love of the sea--all themes present, perhaps not surprisingly, in Hemingway's works as well.

Excerpted from the full review, which ran in the September 14th issue of Shelf Awareness for Readers.

13 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

Loved everything about this book!!

This is a book I could have read in one sitting if I didn't have to work & have other responsibilities - darn. I loved everything about this story. I had always "heard" that Hemingway wasn't the nicest of people, but this story, while fiction, painted him with such a soft, sweet heart - I loved it. It also prompted me to read more about him as well as read at least ONE of the stories he penned. I immediately read The Paris Wife after this one and up next is The Old Man & The Sea. You will NOT be disappointed by this book.

12 out of 13 people found this review helpful.

Enjoyed this book

I read this book for my book club, and was pleasantly surprised. I had to keep reminding myself it was fiction, because I found it very believable. The relationship between Hemingway and the girl was different than I expected, but in a good way. the Hurricane story was especially emotional for me, having had family members who lost their homes recently in Hurricane Sandy. A really enjoyable story!

9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Erika Robuck gave me a fly on the wall look not only into the gr

Erika Robuck gave me a fly on the wall look not only into the great novelist Ernest Hemingway’s personal life in Key West, but the relationships he made and broke, the ruined economy of post WWI Key West and the multi-cultural residents who populated the area. With simple easy to read dialogue she painted a real picture of the area, the time and it’s people that was both informative and imaginative. Her protagonist Mariella Bennet was a fascinating specimen of fortitude, attitude and humility and she will long be remembered in this reader’s mind and along with her multitude of wonderful eclectic characters made this novel a definite keeper as she educated and entertained me. It’s a hard to put down read so make sure your chores are finished before you pick this one up. Know that this journey was more than worth it’s time and I’m anxious for the next place this incredible storyteller wants to take me.

It’s 1961 Key West Florida and after a day of deep sea fishing with her son Mariella learns of Papa Hemingway’s death. The news sends her back in time to 1930s Key West where the living was anything but easy, where left over depression still lingered in the Keys, in the shanty homes and the gaunt hopeless faces of it’s residents, to the year she met Papa, where only months before her own father had died. She was almost 20 the first time she met him, bigger than life and full of himself and he left an impression that never would or could die. She remembers that tumultuous year of her life and the role Hemingway and others played in it, she remembers falling in love, she remembers joy and sadness. She remembers the best and worst of times, she remembers just what Papa meant to her and she to him.

6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

I found this story to be a difficult read finish. Erika targets

I found this story to be a difficult read finish. Erika targets a female audience in the 16 to 21 age bracket. If that is you, then perhaps you may enjoy this story.

5 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

I loved this book

I really enjoyed this book. I am an avid reader and just happened to stumble upon it on Saturday and thought why not. I read it in under 24 hours. I just thought it was that good. It really evoked some powerful emotions in me. I thought it was elegantly written.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

The book led up up a startling climax that was entirely unexpect

The book led up up a startling climax that was entirely unexpected and I learned details that I had not know before.
Hemingway is such a giant it is hard to portray
him in a human way byt Ms. Roebuck has shown us why he is a fascinating character.

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Better than I thought it would be

I read the reviews and I thought it would just be a pleasant little story, but it hummed along pretty well. It was earthy and decadent with a dash of high drama in between. Glad I read it.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A must read! Sucked in from page one by great character developm

A must read! Sucked in from page one by great character development and storyline that made me not want to put it down. I LOVE a well written book that is able walk that fine line in terms of balancing historically accurate events with fictional characters and Hemingway's Girl does that better than most. Hands down one of the best books I've read this year.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A Vivid Look into Hemingway and the Florida Keys, A Must-Read H

A Vivid Look into Hemingway and the Florida Keys, A Must-Read

HEMINGWAY'S GIRL is a fictional look into the life of writer Ernest Hemingway and his relationship with his 2nd wife told through the eyes of Mariella, a maid in Hemingway's house. Robuck's novel shines a spotlight onto Hemingway's time in the Florida Keys similar to author Paula McLain's novel about Hemingway's marriage to Hadley in Paris, France, THE PARIS WIFE.

In HEMINGWAY'S GIRL, author Erika Robuck takes readers back to 1935 along the Florida Keys where Ernest Hemingway lived with his second wife, Pauline, and their sons. The story begins the moment Hemingway meets Robuck's fictional character Mariella at a dockside boxing match. The pull and tug of the relationships in the novel take place in the alluring Florida Keys, along the ocean and below the sway of palm trees.

HEMINGWAY'S GIRL is a moving story about 1930s life in the Florida Keys, the separations and ties between societal classes, the bravado and charm of iconic writer Ernest Hemingway, and the ways friends and friendships can either destroy us or help us to become better than we could be on our own.

I enjoyed HEMINGWAY'S GIRL, and highly recommend it to all of my reading friends. Erika Robuck is a historical fiction author to watch, and I look forward to her next novel.

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Mariella Bennet is the daughter of an American father and Spanis

Mariella Bennet is the daughter of an American father and Spanish
mother; her mother is paralyzed by grief after the death of Mariella's
father. Mariella not only loved her father beyond words but also loves
her Key West, Florida community which is struggling to survive during
the Depression. Her dream is to save enough money to start a tourist
business by running a charter boat. The sea is her home away from home;
but her real life at the moment is earning enough to allow her family to
eat and her to pay the rent. Into this world a miracle happens, one
that will transform her life forever! One evening at fight on which she
recklessly gambled away the rent money, she meet "Papa"
Hemingway, famous writer. Hemingway is attracted to her and eventually
hires her as "help" in his Key West home, a place where the
Depression is notably absent and luxury abounds. A statement from
Hemingway aptly exemplifies the novelist's relationships and is a
warning to Mariella about the future, comparing a banyon tree to a
parasite, feeding on others for its huge survival and strength.
Hemingway's second wife, Pauline, is riddled with jealousy and Hemingway
himself displays something of the same, albeit not as severely as his
wife, when Mariella meets a fighter, Gavin. A romance clearly is
growing between Gavin and Mariella, although Hemingway exerts a sexual
attraction to her that confuses her. Meanwhile, her mother warns her
about "desire" being dangerous and capable of wrecking her
life. Gavin is a survivor of the famous Argonne battle of WWI and later
in the novel describes the horror of losing his best friend and saving
the lives of two other friends, one, John, who becomes a good friend of
Mariella. These are men who are wounded beyond physical problems but
who survive to live life to the fullest. In one way, Mariella's
relationship with these three men and her family are a beautiful coming
of age story, about the difference between real love borne from the
highs and lows that life throws in one's path. The rest of the story
depicts riveting scenes of illness, accidents, betrayal, a terrible
storm, revelation of a secret, and letters of truth and honesty.
Hemingway's Girl is a stunning, amazing read - a superb work of
historical fiction that deserves best-seller status!!!

2 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

Don't waste your time or money on this book. Even at the NOOK bo

Don't waste your time or money on this book. Even at the NOOK book discount, I was disappointed.  I was hoping to gain more insight into Hemingway, but his character is  sadly shallow and underdeveloped in this book.  The protagonist, Mari, is a Cuban American with  21st Century insight and dialogue to match, totally not fitting with the early 1930's Key West in which she is placed.  The writing style is simplistic.   felt that I was reading "Run, Spot. Run."  This story line is tedious. 

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good read

This is a work of fiction. That said it draws you in. I have never been a Hemingway fan. This book made me want to know more about the truth of his life. Maybe Mari did not act exactly as some think a woman of her status and time would have. But we do not know and for Papa's sake maybe he did have someone like her in his life.

Really good!!!

I felt like I was living in Key West.

A really good read, well written!

Glad I read it, hated for it to end

Trevor.

I havent chose which girl.

Hidy

I was told to come here

Yaneli

Why am i here again

Ashleey

Trevor... im not gonna play this game. So if u rlly like me.. you will find me when u have decided.. but until then goodbye.

Boring

The fact that the book uses a real character such as Hemingway in a fictional story made it difficult to read. I had to keep reminding my self that it wasn't a true story. I ended up not reading the book, i couldn't get into it.